Air conditioning apparatus



May 23, l939 H. HERSPERGER 2,159,024

AI'R CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec( 51, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 1 n .1. lMQW J muunnnim'mmnmwy ff\ @ummm E wf'l Im auf',

ATT Nx-:Y

May 23, 1939- H. HERSPERGER l 2,159,024

i AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec. .'51, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 *tw'I J0 7/ 5/ 76 BY f 16;., ATT NEY Patented May 2.3, 1939 PATENTI OFFICEAIR lCONDITIONINGk APPARATUS Herman Hersperger, Roselle, N. J., assignerto American Radiator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewJersey Application December 31,

Claims. (Cl. 261-12) My invention relates to air conditioning apparatus,and more particularly to vair conditioning apparatus of the room unittype; that is to say, one which is enclosedl within a cabinet or casingstructure and is adapted to be installed in a room space, and whichoperates to condition .the air in such space.

An object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the above typewhich is of improved construction and arrangement of parts.

A further object is to provide apparatus of this type which is highlycompact and which is pleasing in appearance and which operates tocondition effectively the air within the room space in which it isinstalled.

Without imposing any limitation on the invention in its broader aspects,a still further object is to provide an air conditioning unit includingas part thereof a means for circulating and heating the air during thewinter, and a means for adding moisture to the heated air; both meansbeing compactly arranged in an improved form of cabinet which is neatandpleasing in appearance, and being also arranged in a manner to performeillciently the functions of heating and humidifying the air.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, to be more fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of whichwill be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specication,I have fully and clearly .illustrated a preferred embodiment of myinvention, in which drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustratingone preferred embodiment of my invention as installed in a room space atpoints adjacent a window opening thereof;

Fig. v2 is a transverse gertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal verticalsectional view taken on the line 3 3 ofFig. 1; and l Fig. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view takenon the line 4-4 of Fig.'3.

Referring now in detail to the construction v illustrated, it will beobserved that I have shown `of the roomv by a plurality of jack screwsI6 which serve to position the top wall II at ther desired level withrespect to a window sill I'I. A skirt member I8 surrounds the lower partof the end walls l2 and I3 and front wall I4, and

,the outlet opening 30.

1936, Serial N0. 118,483

closes the space between the bottom of the cabi- I net and the iloor,thereby providing a unit which presents a pleasing appearance to the eyeof ranged partition means and 2l into a central air supply andcirculating compartment 22, into a water supply compartment 23, and intoa humidifying compartment 24. The compartments 23 and 24 may alsobevreferred to as end com'- partments, as they are arranged respectivelyat' the ends of the vcentral compartment and provide with the latter aneat and' well balanced unit. Doors 25 and 26 are provided in the frontof the end compartments 23 and 24 respectively for the purpose ofproviding access to the interior thereof for inspection and replacementof elements housed therein. The doors 26 and 26 are'of the' same sizeand are similarly arranged withrespect to their Vcompartments so as tocontribute further to the. Well balanced and neat design of the cabinet.

Air outlet openings 30 and 3l lof similar size and shape are provided inthe top wall II and at the center of the cabinet. The openings 30 and 3Iare arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical transverse medianplane through the cabinet Ill, as will appearfrom an examination ofFig. 1. A relatively small oblong outlet opening 32 is also provided inthe top wall II at pointsadjacent the outlet opening 3l for the purposeof introducing moisture into the room, in amanner which will appear morefully hereinafter. Y

An air inlet opening 35 is provided in the center of the top'wall II andat therearthereof. The opening 35 communicates with the outsideatmosphere by a horizontally and rearwardly extending duct 36 connectedat its inner end to the top wall II and communicating with the opening35, and having its open outer end arranged within an opening defined bya partially raised window sash 3l andthe window sill I1, so as toprovide communication with the outside atmosphere. Suitable iillerpieces 38 are arranged respectively between the sides of the duct 36 andthe adjacent window jambs 39, The skirt member I8 is provided with apair of symmetrically arranged air inlet openings 40 which providecommunication between the room space, and the interior and bottom of thecabinet.

The unit I6 operates to bring in fresh outside air through the duct 36and opening 35 and to discharge such fresh air into the room through Theunit also operates to recirculate room air by admittingsuch air throughthe openings 40 in the skirt I8 and discharging the4 air into the roomthrough the opening 3|. The recirculation of room air and discharge offresh airA into the room serves to maintain the air in the room space inconstant circulation. Y 'Ihemeans providing for the introduction offresh air and recirculation of room ain` is arranged within the centralcompartment 22. This means is in the form of a motor-blower unit 42comprising a centrally arranged motor 43 and blowers 44 and 45 arrangedrespectively at the ends of the motor 43. The motor 43 may be suitablysupported by a. plate 46 extending from the rear wall l5 to the frontwall I4, and the motor is provided with a horizontal shaft 41 extendingfrom both ends thereof. The blower 44 comprises a Vscrollfshaped housing48 suitably secured to the cabinet, and a blower wheel 49 fixed to oneend of the motor shaft 41. The blower 45 comprises a scroll-shapedhousing 58 and a blower wheel 5I fixed to the other end of the motorshaft.

The housing 48 comprises end walls 521 and 53 and a circumferentiallyextending wall 54 joining the periphery of the end walls 52 and 53. The

end wall 53 is solid, as shown in Fig. 3, and the end wall 52 isprovided with an axially arranged inlet opening 55. The blower housing48 is provided with a radial discharge opening 56 arranged to dischargevertically upward, vand is connected to the outlet opening 38 by adischarge ductsection 51 suitably lined with sound deadening material,indicated at 58.

The housing 58 comprises end walls 68 and 6|, i

both of which have axially arranged inlets 62, and a circumferentiallyextending wall 63 join-r ing the end walls and 6I. The housing 58 isprovided with a radial discharge opening 64 which is arranged todischarge air vertically upward intothe lower end of a discharge ductsection 65. The duct section 65 is provided With a sound deadeninglining, as indicated at 66, and the upper end of the duct section isconnected to a second duct 61 formed by end plates 68 and 69 of aheating coil 18 and by a part of an upright wall 1| at the rear of theunit and a part of the front wall I4. The upper end of the duct 61discharges into the room space through the outlet opening 3 I.

The heating coil 18 comprises a plurality of parallel horizontal pipes13 connected at their ends by return bends 14 for serial ows of asuitable heating fluid therethrough; such, for examplefas steam or hotwater. As stated, plates 68 and 69 extend across the ends of theeiective heating surface of the coil 18. The coil is also provided withparallel heat `radiating ns or plates 15. The coil is provided with aninlet pipe 16 and a discharge or return pipe 11 which may be connectedrespectively to the supply and return lines of a conventional heatingsystem. The pipe 16 is provided with a-hand-operated valve 18 forcontrolling the flow of the heating fluid to the coil 18.

At the rear and upper part of the interior of the cabinet is provided achamber 88 defined by the upright Wall1| extending vlongitudinally ofthe 'cabinet behind the ducts 51, .65 and 61, a vertical with the freshair met opening at and with an' opening 86 in the end wall 83 whichcommunicates with a second and vertically extending chamber 81.

'I'he chamber 81 is deilned by a part of the rear wall I5, by a part ofthe partition means 28, by the end wall 84 of the duct 51, and by abottom wall 68. The chamber 81 is entirely closed, ex-

'cept for its communication with the chamber 88 and with the inlet 55 ofthe blower casing 48.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the blower 44 drawsinto the unit only fresh outside air from the duct 36 and through thechamber 88 and chamber 81, and the blower 44 a replaceable filter' 92arranged acrossthe cham# ber 88 and replaceable through anopening 93 inthe top wall Il.

The blower 45 draws only room air into the unit through the inletopenings 48 in the skirt I8, and forces such air upwardly into the roomthrough the duct 65, duct 61, and outlet opening 3|. As the'air flowsthrough the duct 61, itsdry bulb temperature is raised, due to contactwith the surfaces of the coil 18.

Arranged within the compartment 23 is a. water supply receptacle or cup95 secured to the cabinet structure and supporting in inverted positiona water supply bottle 96 which may be conveniently removed from thecompartment 23 through the door 25, refilled and replaced in position inthe compartment 23. From an examination ofFigs. 3 and 4, it will beobserved that, inthe interest of compactness, the partition means 28 isshelved out, as indicated at 91, for receiving the enlarged part of thebottle 96. The bottle is supported by a rim member 98 secured to theupp'er periphery 'of the cup 95, and the member 98 is provided with anair inlet groove 99 which provides for the maintenance ofatmospheric'pressure above the water in the cup, as is well known inthis type of water supply means for humidii'lers.

The cup 95 is connected by a horizontal pipe |88 with a water receptacle|8| suitably supported in the compartment 24 and at approximately thesame level as the cup 95 so that an adequate amount of water ismaintained in the receptacle I8I.

The receptacle |8| forms a part of a humidifying mechanism |82 whichalso includes a motordriven atomizer unit |83 which operates to drawwater from the receptacle upward through a tube |84, to atomize suchwater and to provide a stream of airl in which the atomired water ormist is entrained and carried away. The mechanism |82 discharges the'stream o air with` water mist upward into the lower end of. a duct whichconnects at its upper end with a nozzle member |86, the latter extendingupwardly through the opening 32 in the top wall. The nozzle |86 isarranged adjacent the outlet opening 3| and is preferably inclinedtoward the outlet opening 3| so that the stream of air with water mistflowing from the nozzle will contact the heated air stream flowingupwardly through the outlet 3| and thereby provide for the quick and.

complete evaporation of the moisture in the heated air stream and forefiiciently increasing the humidity content of the atmosphere in theroom space.

What I claim and desire to secure Patent of the United States is:

1. vIn an air conditioning unit, the combination of an elongated casingstructure adapted to be arranged in a room space and operable tocirculate and condition the air therein; a pair of spaced uprightpartition means extending across the interior of said enclosingcasingstructure and dividing the latter into a main or centralcompartment and 'into first and second' end compartments arrangedrespectively at the ends of said central compartment; said centralcompartment having spaced air inlet and outlet openings; means in saidcentral compartment defining an Vby Letters 'air passage connecting saidinlet and outlet openings; heating means arranged across said passage;water supply means arranged in said first end compartment; wateratomizing mechanism in said second end compartment, and having adischarge outlet and operable to deliver' through its outlet a stream'of air with waterrmist entrained therein; conduit means connecting thewater supply means a d thev water atomizing mechanism; nozzle meansconnected to the discharge of said mechanism and having its outlet andextending through a'deilning wall part of said second end compartment atpoints adjacent the outlet in said central compartment, and be inginclined toward such outlet so as to provide for the flow of air withwater mist entrained I therein outwardly over the outlet in saidcentral' compartment so that the water mist becomes quickly evapratdupon contacting with the heated air from said outlet in the centralcompartment.

2; In an air conditioning unit adapted to be arranged within a roomspace, the combination of an elongated casing structure adapted to bearranged in a room space and operable to circulate and condition the airtherein; a pair of spaced upright partition means extending acrossthe.interior of said enclosing casing structure and dividing the latterinto a central compartment and into iirst and second end compartmentsarranged respectively at the endsof said' central compartment; saidcentral.compartment having spaced air inlet and outlet openings; meansin said central compartment dening an air passage connecting said inletand outlet openings; blower means providing for the flow of air' throughsaid passage and said outlet into said .room space; heat exchange meansarranged in said passage and operable to increase the temperature of theair flowing therethrough; water supply means arranged in saidfirst endcompartment; water atomizing mechanism arranged.

in said secondend compartmentandconnected to said water supply means andoperable to discharge a stream of air with water` mist entrained thereininto said room space at points adjacent" said outlet in the centralsection. y

3. In an air conditioning unit adapted to be arranged within a roomspace, the combination of an elongatedcasing structure adapted to bearranged in a room space and operable to circulate and condition the airtherein; a pair of` spaced upright partition means extending across theinterior of lsaid enclosing casing structure and dividing the latterinto acentral comparte ment and into rst and second -end compartmentsarranged respectively at the ends of said central compartment; saidcentral compartment having` spaced air inlet and outlet openings; meansin' said central compartment dening an air passage connecting saidAinlet and outlet openings; blower means providing for the ow of airthrough said passage and said outlet into said room space; heat'exchangemeans arranged in said passage and operable to increase the tempperaturev of the air lflowing therethrough; water their respectivecompartments and capable of being opened to permit access to the watersupply means and the water atomizing mechanism.

4. In an air conditioning unit adapted to be arranged within aroomfspace, the combination of an elongated casing structure adapted tobe arranged in a room space and operable to circulate and condition theair therein; a pair of spaced upright partition means extending acrossthe interior 'of said enclosing casing structure and dividing the latterinto a central compartment and into first and second endcompartmentsarranged respectively at the lends of said centralcompartment; said'central compartment having spaced air inlet and outletopenings; means in said central compartment dening an air passageconnecting said inlet and outlet openings; blower means providing forthe flow of air through said passage and said outlet into said roomspace; heat exchange means arranged in said passage and operable toincrease the temperatureof the air flowing therethrough; water supplymeans arranged in said rst end compartment; water atomizing mechanismarranged in said second end compartment and connected to said watervsupply means and operable to discharge a; stream of air with Water mistentrained therein into said room space at points adjacent said outlet inthe central section; said iirst and second end compartments being eachprovided with doors similarly positioned with respect to j theirrespective compartments and capable of being opened to permit access tosaid water supplymeans and said water atomizing means.

5. -An air conditioning unit for room spaces,

comprising an enclosing casing divided interiorly into a main warm aircompartment and an auxiliary humidifying compartment; said casingincluding 'a substantially horizontal top wall portion having rst andsecond outlet openings therein; means in the main compartment defining aflow path for air terminating in said iirst outlet opening; air heatingmeans arranged in said iiow path; water-atomizing means in saidauxiliary compartment providing a stream of air with water mistentrained therein; and conduit means for directing said stream of airand water HERMAN rmRsPE'RGER.

